Acworth Grandmother Wins Lottery Jackpot

ATLANTA – Christmas has come early for Melissa Golden of Acworth. Golden won a dazzling jackpot prize of $533,669 by matching all five numbers in the Dec. 4 Fantasy 5 drawing, the Georgia Lottery announced Tuesday. The winning numbers from the Dec. 4 drawing were 12-18-26-32-35. Lakeside Crossing, at 6649 Glade Road SE in Acworth, sold the winning ticket.

According to the grandmother of two, she was on her way home from visiting her grandchildren when she stopped to buy tickets, according to a Georgia Lottery statement. “I saw how big the jackpot was and decided to play,” she said. “I bought two tickets.”

After selecting the Quik Pik option, Golden said that she checked her numbers online later that night and was in shock when she realized that she had won. “I kept screaming, ‘Oh, my gosh!’” she said.

Golden, who works for Monitor Manufacturing in Cartersville, said she plans to use her winnings to buy a couple of things for herself and share with her family. “I’m going to spoil my grandchildren,” the lucky winner said. “I’m very grateful.”

Golden claimed her prize Tuesday at the Georgia Lottery’s Dalton District Office.

Since its first year, the Georgia Lottery Corp. has returned more than $19 billion to the state of Georgia for education. All Georgia Lottery profits go to pay for educational programs, including the HOPE Scholarship Program and Pre-K Program.

For more information on the Georgia Lottery Corp., please visit www.galottery.com

Release: Georgia Lottery Corp.

Image: Melissa Golden of Acworth shows off the check for her winnings in the Fantasy 5 game (Georgia Lottery Corp.).